wagashi 2012 spring 7

The small cats are made of candy called Kinkato from Mannendo in Tokyo.  There are only 2 companies in Japan that make Kinkato which is old style candy made using sugar boiled into liquid then poured into molds, then painted by hand after set.  Moroeya is another company who make this candy.

wagashi 2012 spring 6

Yuzu Kohaku from Eirakuya.

wagashi 2012 spring 5

This wagashi has red bean paste buried in pale green rakugan with pink sakura design on top.  It is delicious and from Sebontamajuken of Kyoto.

Wagashi 2012 Spring 4

Childrens' Day is May5 in Japan.  This box is from Tawaraya Yoshitomi.  There are a boy and a girl Senbei plus higashi and Konpeito.  The boy senbei was eaten immediately by the baby once opened. 

Wagashi 2012 Spring 3

Chokyudou's Suhama Assorted box contains suhama on skewers, konpeito, and higashi. 

Wagashi 2012 Spring 2

This particular box of wagashi is bought from a small old wagashi house in Naramachi  called Onkashi Tsuruya Tokuman and it was so unassuming.  I was attracted by the interesting bigger shape of wisteria rakugan in purple.  The box contains also deer shape rakugan unique to Nara as Nara Park near the area is full of deers.  The assorted box is called Nara Wisteria wave with wisteria, deer, fern, young maple leaf, butterfly, wave and iris.

Wagashi 2012 Spring 1

This is the special order from Toraya Kyoto, a famous wagashi house specialized in Yogan.  This Oshimono is made using a wooden mold (a few hundred years ago) and put the coloured rice powder and sugar into it and press it and release it to come out.The exact colouration and placement requires extreme skill.  This particular one is called Hana no En from the Genjikou series.  It celebrate the cherry blossom season.

Back to Vancouver.  Thank you Japan for the wonderful experience.  I will update all about it soon.

on vacation

Puri Ratu Kidul

This is an image of me at the Queen of the South Resort at Parangtritis Beach near Yogyakarta of Indonesia. The painting is not done yet. I will be dressed in a summer kimono that I will select in Kyoto and I will add that to the painting.